Sydney FC have terminated their contract with long-serving manager Steve Corica on Tuesday following their three consecutive goalless defeats at the start of the new season. Corica, who has been associated with the club since their inception in 2005 as both a player and coach, guided the Sky Blues to their last two Australian titles in 2018-19 and 2019-2020.
“The Sydney FC Board has decided to take a new direction,” said chairman Scott Barlow in an official statement. “Steve is a club legend who has made an incredible contribution over our 19-year history.”
Corica, aged 50, was a midfielder for Wolverhampton Wanderers in England before returning to join Sydney FC. He rose from the boot room to succeed current Australia coach Graham Arnold in 2018. The team won the league title in his first two seasons as head coach and made it to the championship final in 2020-2021, but failed to qualify for the post-season playoffs in 2021-2022 and finished fifth in the previous campaign.
“Although leaving Sydney FC after such a long time is difficult, I am filled with incredible memories,” expressed Corica, who amassed 13 trophies during his nearly two decades with the club. “I am grateful to all the amazing staff, players, Sydney FC members, and fans.”
“When I first joined this brand new club in 2005, I never could have imagined spending the next 19 years of my life here. I will always cherish my time with Sydney FC,” Corica added.
Reporting by Nick Mulvenney; Editing by Ken Ferris
